We have it within our power to be the first generation to leave this planet in a better condition than we found it. Take the SSSI at Rampisham Down. Dorset Wildlife Trust would have us all believe there are acres of nodding wildflowers, rare wax caps and shy adders there. Their language and illustrations are emotive and designed to elicit the natural response which we all feel towards the threat of wanton destruction. But this is simply not the case.
Here is the DWT campaign image, a picture of ‘typical acid grassland flora’:
This is not Rampisham Down and is not representative of the habitat on that site. Dorset Wildlife Trust cannot use a real image of Rampisham Down because it looks nothing like this.
In 1996, the site was designated a Site of Nature Conservation Interest (SNCI) and Dorset Wildlife Trust drew up a management plan with the then owner. Since that time, the rare species that should be there in large numbers have dwindled to a few isolated patches, with little or no evidence found for some over the last few years. Given their interest and their management plan, how can DWT have allowed this to happen? The last time an adder was recorded around here was in 2006, but that was over the other side of the road. Dorset Wildlife Trust persist incharming their members by repeatedly referring to these rare species and using them to illustrate their campaign to ‘Save Our National Treasure’, as if the site was about to be destroyed. But how much worse can it get?
Dorset Wildlife Trust has been jointly caring for this ‘national treasure’ since 1996 – why then is it in such a bad way?
The reason for this degradation is that the turf, which would normally have been grazed by cattle or ponies, has now overgrown and formed a ‘thatch’. With year on year growth not removed it is now very difficult for these delicate and rare species to thrive. Had the management plan been properly executed it would not be in such a sorry state. DWT’s campaign to ‘Save Rampisham Down’ is an attempt to distract us from the true condition of this SSSI, a fact not lost on local people, the local Parishes and District Councillors, who all prefer to see the site in the hands of a responsible organisation whose aim is indeed to leave the planet in a better state than it currently is. People in Dorset genuinely believe that the site can recover and will thrive under the plans put forward by BSR.
As you sit and read this article, consider for a moment the energy being consumed as you do so – lights, heat, computer, oven, kettle, phone charger, etc., manufactured around the globe and transported to your door, emitting tons of carbon along the way. Keeping the energy flowing to power our lives is producing carbon, which is having an effect somewhere else, on someone else’s life and habitat. This has been going on for over 200 years and the cumulative effect is now having an impact on the whole planet. Weather patterns and habitats are changing, and along with that, people’s lives, often the people least equipped to deal with the impact. It is time we took responsibility for the comfort we enjoy and accept that we are not paying the true cost of our carbon emissions – someone else is, as their lives and habitat are lost.
The following words were delivered to WDDC Planning Committee by the world-renowned botanist Professor Sir Ghillean Prance, during their consideration of the application for a solar farm at Rampisham Down.
“I am a botanist and ecologist with a huge concern about stopping climate change because it is already affecting so many biological habitats around the world. I am the former Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew and have written over 250 scientific articles and 23 books on related topics. We must change to non-carbon dioxide producing sources of energy as soon as possible, this includes nuclear energy, but the sun the wind and tide are our best sources in the UK.
I have visited Rampisham Down several times over the past 18 months and walked over it extensively. I have found a very degraded and often impacted habitat and no unusually rare plant species in the grassland. I see that bracken is increasing considerably and changing the Down from U4 grassland. Bracken will need urgent attention by whoever manages Rampisham in future and British Solar Renewables is already consulting a bracken expert Dr. Stephen Holoway.
I was involved in the planning of the shading experiments that have taken place and feel that the results of this work if carried on over a full year will be of significance to solar arrays far beyond Rampisham. This is an important scientific work with publishable results. The resulting data are already attracting interest from DEFRA and other agencies. The proposed use of translucent solar panels is innovative and will greatly reduce the effects of shading. I am now confident that shading from the panels will have little effect on the grassland underneath if properly grazed.
I cannot see why Natural England is resisting this project. I have not before worked with such a collaborative land owner or company. They are doing all they can to consider the environment, leaving the least disturbed and better part of the U4 grassland intact, over 50% of the area. The solar array as planned, looked at from directly above actually covers only 19% of area and effects only 23% in any way.
Our understanding of the SSSI and our ability to manage the impact of the solar farm is based on experience, field analysis and fact. Objectors to the scheme, including Dorset Wildlife Trust, who are more distant from those facts necessarily have a less credible understanding of the impact.
May I conclude by reminding you that U4 grassland is a transitional man-made habitat and there are no botanical species of concern to me on Rampisham Down. Please approve this project so that 5800 more homes can get renewable energy and in a small but significant way help to stop climate change.
This recent quote from another ecologist with whom I am collaborating is most poignant’ ‘I passionately want to see the solar farm at Rampisham and a chance to develop all the management plans, conservation work and research that we have dreamed of.’ “
Thanks to Community Heat and Power
Hannah Lovegrove
